Mikey, Our Rescue Puppy

I love dogs, I always have and I know I always will. I have a passion for all animals but I especially love dogs. With that passion comes a mind set of how they should be cared for. I believe if you want to own a dog he should become part of the family and that means he should live in the house with you. He does not belong outside chained to a tree or locked in a cage with no contact with other animals or people.

A few months ago my neighbor brought home a little mixed breed hound. He was about 2 or 3 months old and was allowed to roam the neighborhood. That lasted for about a week and then he was chained to a tree in the side yard where he yipped and cried all day and when he wasn't crying he was digging the biggest holes he could dig. That didn't make the owner happy so then the puppy was put in a cage in the back yard. The cage was surrounded by long grasses, weeds and trees so you could not see the puppy and the puppy could not see you.

He cried all day long. He was fed and watered in the morning and sometimes received table scraps in the evening and this was the only contact this puppy had with his owner. This was very upsetting to me so I went several times to the neighbors home and offered to buy the puppy from him but always received the same "no, I am not interested in selling the dog".

So I started praying. I prayed this man would have a change of heart and would either start paying attention to the puppy or be willing to sell him to me. After about two weeks of praying I received a knock on my door. Yes, it was the neighbor telling me he didn't want the dog and he would sell him to me.

My prayers were answered and Mike came home to live with me, my husband and our two German Wirehaired Pointers.

This lens is about our experience of rescuing a dog and the joy this little pup brought to me. Never pass up a chance to help a helpless animal no matter what breed, no matter what age and no matter what size. Just do it!

Feel the Joy

If you love dogs as I love dogs you will not hesitate to rescue a puppy if the situation presents itself. Dogs truly are man's best friend.

NUMBER ONE REASON TO RESCUE A PUPPY: The unconditional love and affection plus it just feels good. It is uplifting and morally right. To know that you have taken a puppy from an unhealthy, oppresive life to one of happiness, social contact and a full tummy is just plain good. It will make you smile every time you look into the eyes of that rescue puppy.

Our little Mikey is a great dog and he tries so hard to please us. The wet kisses and that little white tipped tail wagging so hard just makes you giggle. The satisfaction you get watching him run in the yard, chase a ball or just curl up and take a nap is beyond words. He is safe now and he knows it. Wow, what a feeling.

This is a picture of Mike with his new little friend Doogie Schnauzer.

Animal abuse is wrong and people that think these dogs don't have brains or feelings are way off base. Dogs are smart and they do have feelings. It is just plain wrong to get a puppy and abuse it, either physically or mentally. Dogs DO NOT belong chained to a post or tree or left in a kennel away from people and other animals. Period, end of story!

All tuckered out!

Mike is making himself quite comfortable and feeling right at home. What a sweet little guy and smart too!

We made an appointment with our Vet and discovered Mike has fleas and Mike has worms! UGH!!! Our dogs are protected because they have been on Frontline but we had to clean his bedding and the bathroom where we had given him his first bath. Both of these problems were easy fixes. We would have eventually discovered the fleas ourselves but not the worms so we are very happy we have a great Vet who saw him right away. While he was there he got his first 2 shots and his nails clipped. Oh, and Mikey weighed in at 26 pounds.

Having a ball

Mike has two older brothers now which are our 2 German Wirehaired Pointers. Jack is 3 years old and Joey is 1 year old. Jack is not happy to have another younger pest, or I mean brother, around but Joey is very happy to have a new play mate.

Mike is trying hard to keep up with his two new buddies and after seeing them jump in the water for a tennis ball Mike was not going to be out done. So, the next time the ball was thrown in the water guess who got it? Yup, it was Mikey.

He enjoyed his swim so much he took a couple of laps around the grandchildren before getting out. I know it is hard to see but that yellow thing in his mouth is the tennis ball. This is one rescue puppy that is catching on fast and enjoying his new home. I can't tell you what a pleasure it has been to have him in our lives. Mikey, you are the best!